Apparel Jobs in Minnesota (NOW HIRING)

TITLE: DESIGN ASSISTANT + CAD ARTIST

DETAILS: MINNEAPOLIS, MN

ABOUT TAI APPAREL:                                                                                          

·      Apparel manufacturer with US Sales and Design team based domestically and overseas

·      Specialize in knit and woven apparel

·      US Sales and Design team located in Minneapolis and LA

·      US Design and Sourcing team based in China driving a fast fashion speed to market business model

·      Design team specializes in trend, fabric, technical spec/fit, sketches, fit approvals, CADs, graphics, art separations and art strike offs.

SUMMARY OF POSITION:

Support the product design team by assisting in day-to-day responsibilities in the office to meet internal and external needs.

SKILLS & ATTRIBUTES:

·      Passionate about the apparel industry & art

·      Possesses a strong design aesthetic and eye for fashion

·      Ability to deliver under tight deadlines

·      Knowledgeable in fashion and trend

·      Proficient on Mac platforms

·      Quick and eager to learn

·      Driven to innovate and execute

·      Self-motivated with a collaborative attitude

·      Positive, Drama-free

·      Operates well within feedback culture and strives to develop in role

·      Passionate about developing & driving product assortments that make sense and will sell thru to the customer

TECHNICAL ABILITY:

·      Understanding of Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator

·      Base knowledge of fabrics, washes, treatments, and silhouettes

·      CAD experience is not required, but a plus

RESPONSIBILITIES:

·      Work alongside team to learn internal product design and development process.

·      Collaborate, strategize + develop deck presentations.

• Task examples includes realist sketches, color fill, layer fill, graphic placement, art boards.

·      Work across a variety of apparel categories to deliver upon retailer expectations.

·      Assist Designer/Merchandiser to develop and design trend right and compelling product to fit the needs and white space opportunities of the retailers we serve

·      Work across a variety of apparel categories to deliver upon retailer expectations.

·      Assist team with follow up meeting/narrowed CAD decks for retailers.

·      Maintain flexible working hours that account for calls across various time zones.

·      Provide trend direction input when appropriate (example: making silhouette direction recommendations when necessary).

Office Tasks:

·      Expectation is to be in office Monday-Friday in case anything is needed

·      Primarily answering the door for FedEx, UPS, USPS and DHL during regular business hours

·      Opening packaging and sorting them in their appropriate locatoins

·      Main point of contact for managing computer passwords

·      Shipping packages for team members (as needed)

·      Pull samples for designers & sales team as needed

·      Returning inspirational/reference samples to retailers

·      Sample management- organizing weekly sample development review and TOP photography

·      Ordering office supplies

·      Ordering color standards for Design

·      Keeping office clean/organized

·      Making FedEx labels for other team members

·      Donations - drop off at Goodwill, Salvation Army

·      Various projects that come up, for example; office reno scheduling, fabric organization or wifi issues

·      Create style #s & upload style #s to PLM

·      Onboarding and aiding in uploading necessary systems on new employee's computers

·      Managing our employee exit checklist

·      Managing Adobe Licenses

·      Sending birthday wishes & gifts

·      Planning team HH's / events

• PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT
• LEARN:
• Learn the internal Tai product design and development process
• Fabric, Silhouette, Wash Techniques, Style #, Technical Design Process, Sampling Process, Sketching & Project Management Process
• STRATEGY: 
• Research and provide trend insight from the market to architect a product strategy/assortment.

·      Identify key item/white space/emerging trends with regards to silhouettes, fabric, color, techniques and trims to ensure product is consistently relevant and evolving with the market through trend shopping, online research (WGSN), etc. 

• Ability to translate pre-peak trends to mid-tier/mass retailers
• Constantly brainstorming newness, in partnership with design.
• Regularly pull art inspiration for graphic artists.
• Meet with Sales Team to strategize upcoming needs/meeting goals & approach.

• DESIGN DEVELOPMENT:
• Develop product, in partnership with development designer based on market trends/retailer needs & white space.
• Comp Shop the market, online, Instagram, WGSN – finding inspiration everywhere
• Sample Handoff :
• Partner with designers to hand over TP’s to Tech team
• Manage sample ETA’s vs due dates
• Develop CAD presentations for upcoming meetings.
• Partner with Assistant Design to assign style numbers for all new silhouettes.

·      PRESENTATION:

·      Assist Designer in organizing, prepare, pack apparel line for upcoming meeting. Time management skills

·      Assist Designer/Merchandiser in presenting apparel concept and product lines (via CADS & samples) to various retailers

·      Quick on your feet and comfortable with on the spot questions/challenges

·      POST MEETING:

·      Assist sales with follow up meeting/narrowed CAD decks for retailers

·      Communicate design meeting follow-up/ changes to internal and external groups (US design, overseas team, sales, merchants, TD team, as needed)

·      Own design/art follow-ups post retailer meetings. 

·      Responsible for prioritizing needs for design team in partnership with sales team to ensure prompt response.

·      Help drive urgent/one off chase requests

·      MISC

·      Flexible work hours due to conference calls overseas, Skype chat.

·      Positive attitude and always looking to work smarter, not harder

·      Be open to new ways of doing things - different – better – more efficient